EIGHT BELLS
as his dad and granddad were both still on
subsidiaries of Union Carbide, including
His strength was unmatched, as he
the river. He was also fortunate to work as
Linde, in Southern California, Domsea
remained a fierce competitor into his late
partners with his brother Capt. Richard C.
Aquaculture, on Bainbridge Island, and
60s, competing in long distance (50-plus
Holt, Sr., for many years, as well as his sons.
London Chemical, in Chicago, Illinois. He
mile) kayak races. In 2009, Bowditch retired
His passion for the water led him and his
retired in 1990 as president of KTI Chemical
to the serene lake and woods of Sebago,
brother to charter the Portsmouth Propeller
in Sunnyvale, California and built the Charley
Maine. The Portland Marine Society
Club in 1975, after holding membership in
J, his dream commercial tuna fishing boat.
welcomed him into the membership of
the Portland Propeller Club and Portland
Several years of summers fishing were
professional seaman where he served as
Marine Society.
enjoyed in Maine and winters spent on
President for two years.
Bainbridge Island.
Donations in his memory can be made to
JOHN V. SAWYER '54
the MMA Scholarship Fund, Maine Maritime
died March 9, 2017 in Machias, Maine. After
ROBERT M. PURTON '56
Academy, 1 Pleasant Street, Castine, ME
graduation from MMA, he sailed for a short
died April 3, 2017. He joined Pacific Pumps
04420.
time on an oil tanker and served two years in
in 1962 as a test engineer and progressed to
the U.S. Navy as Operations Officer on the
developing equipment in the refinery field,
JAMES L. CAMPION '69
USS Ruchamkin. Upon discharge from the
holding 9 patents on equipment being used
died April 28 , 2017 in New Haven,
Navy, he worked in Boston and New York, as
worldwide.
Connecticut. He held a B.S. from MMA and a
an ocean marine insurance underwriter. He
B.S. in accounting from Providence College,
returned home in 1970 to run and operate
CAPT. PETER A. THORPE '67
class of 1973. He sailed as a deck officer for
Worcester-Sawyer Agency. John served
died April 5, 2017. He spent 30 years at sea,
Gulf Oil, was a CPA with KPMG and involved
on the board of directors of Union Trust
the last 20 years as Master. He came ashore
in several small businesses, including
Company in Ellsworth for 32 years and was
in 1997. Thorpe continued his career as a
Campion & Co. Known as a spiritual and
chairman for 17 years. He had a certificate
marine surveyor until retirement in 2011.
thoughtful man, he loved the ocean, golf
of insurance from Northeastern University,
and opera.
was a certified insurance counselor, and a
CAPT. BENSON BOWDITCH JR '64
licensed real estate broker.
died April 19, 2017. After graduation from
CHARLES W. CYR JR '47
MMA, he began a career of 42 years with the
died May 17, 2017 in Topsham, Maine. In
ARTHUR E. LAPHAM '53
Lykes Steamship Company. As a first mate
addition to MMA, he was also a graduate
died March 11, 2017 in Durham, Maine. He
with the MSTS during the Vietnam War, he
of Wentworth Institute in Boston and the
served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve.
braved enemy fire to carry military cargo
University of Maine, Orono. He enlisted in
He retired from General Electric where
to shore. He quickly worked his way to the
the U.S. Navy and was engineering officer
he was a manager in marine propulsion
position of Captain. He later came stateside,
on the USS Eaton DDE 510, which was part
systems. After retirement, he was an owner
serving as Port Captain for Houston and New
of the Sixth Fleet during the Korean War. He
of TAB Services International, a consulting
Orleans, and Manager of Marine Division
was a naval reservist for 20 years, a member
service. He was on the Board of Trustees and
in New Orleans, and later as Compliance
of the Military Officers Association of
active in the Boy Scouts, and in the Maple
Manager in Tampa. Bowditch's leadership
America, and The Society of Naval Architects
Street Church, Danvers, Massachusetts.
and merchant expertise, known worldwide,
and Marine Engineers.
Lapham also volunteered at several military-
was a guiding force for many organizations.
He worked for Bethlehem Steel Shipyard
related museums and at Cape Canaveral,
He was honored to serve as a member of
in Quincy, Massachusetts and subsequently,
Florida. Memorial contributions may
the Council of American Master Mariners,
the Hyde Windlass Co., a subsidiary of
be made to Maine Maritime Academy, 1
Executive Committee member to VOHMA,
Bath Iron Works. He was then employed at
Pleasant St, Castine, ME 04420.
on the Board of Governors for the Maritime
Holmes Distributors and The House of Lights
Security Council, member of the Navigation
in Portland, as General Manager, and later as
MICHAEL J. GALLAGHER '92
Safety Advisory Council, and appointed to
Vice President of the contractor's division.
died March 27, 2017 in Palm City, Florida.
the U.S. Department of Transportation's
He retired in 1991.
After graduation from MMA, he traveled the
Navigation Safety Advisory Council.
In lieu of remembrances, the family asks
world as a Merchant Marine. He was last
He was also a member of Propeller
others to consider donations to the MMA
employed as an engineer with South Florida
Club of America. As a dedicated volunteer
Alumni Association.
Water Management District. Gallagher loved
paramedic and firefighter, Bowditch served
fishing, golfing, cooking and Boston sports
his communities in Texas and Louisiana, and
SUBMISSIONS FOR EIGHT BELLS
teams.
is credited with saving many lives. The water
If you learn of the passing of a MMA
was his life blood. Bowditch looked forward
classmate, associate, friend or family
THOMAS S. MACVANE '52
to regattas, racing his 26' McGregor on Lake
member, please contact Mariner so that we
died March 31, 2017 in Bainbridge Island,
Pontchartrain, Galveston Bay and Tampa
may include the information in a future issue
Washington. After serving in the U.S. Navy,
Bay. He was Commodore of the Bahia Beach
and online. Send obituaries or their digital
the majority of his career was spent with
Yacht Club in Ruskin, Florida.
links to billy.sims@mma.edu.
38
MARINER 2017 · ISS UE 1

---